Background

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is defined as “the descent of one or more aspects of the vagina and the uterus: the anterior vaginal wall, posterior vaginal wall, the uterus (cervix) or the apex of the vagina (vaginal vault or the cuff scare after hysterectomy. Women with early onset POP are generally asymptomatic while women with advanced POP often experience a palpable bulge in the vagina along with concurrent lower urinary tract and anorectal dysfunction. However, POP significantly affects women’s quality of life when the bulging interferes with normal sexual, urinary, or bowel function. Prevalence of POP is estimated to be 15% in low and middle-income countries.

Specific Aims:

Prevalence of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse in women residing in Belagavi, India

Proportions of women who screen positive for prolapse associated pelvic floor dysfunction

a. Lower urinary tract dysfunction (urinary incontinence, voiding dysfunction)

b. Anorectal dysfunction (fecal incontinence, constipation syndromes)

c. Other

Current status of quality of life, awareness and knowledge, and care-seeking barriers among women with POP residing in Belagavi, India

Inclusion Criteria:

1.       All non-pregnant women at the age of 15 married women (past & present) above consenting to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1.       All pregnant women.

Study Site: Women attending the community served by Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) managed by KAHER’s J N Medical College, Belagavi.

Sample size:

Estimated sample size 467 in the Belagavi catchment area based on prior  prevalence data and pilot study.

Methodology

1.       The study participants who screen positive for POP screening tool, will be provided with the option to undergo urogynecological examination by an obstetrics and gynecology resident, Urogynecology fellow, or obstetrician and gynecologist in a mobile unit, and will be referred for appropriate clinical management.